Camillo.

Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia. They were trained together in their childhoods; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, which cannot choose but branch now. Since their more mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, have been royally attorney'd, with interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies, that they have seemed to be together, though absent, shook hands, as over a vast, and embraced, The heavens continue their loves! as it were, from the ends of opposed winds.

Archidamus.

I think, there is not in the world either malice, or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince Mamillius: it is a gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came into my note. Camillo.

him. It is a gallant child; one that, indeed, I very well agree with you in the hopes of physics the subject, makes old hearts fresh: they, that went on crutches ere he was born, desire yet their life to see him a man.

Archidamus.

Very sooth, to-morrow. Leontes.

We'll part the time between's then; and in [that I'll no gain-saying.

Polixenes. Press me not, beseech you, so. There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world, [now,

So soon as yours, could win me: so it should
Were there necessity in your request, although
'Twere needful I denied it. My affairs
Do even drag me homeward; which to hinder,
Were in your love a whip to me, my stay
To you a charge, and trouble: to save both,
Farewell, our brother.

Leontes.

Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you.
Hermione.

I had thought, sir, to have held my peace,
until
[You, sir,
You had drawn oaths from him, not to stay.
Charge him too coldly: tell him, you are sure
All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction
The by-gone day proclaim'd. Say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.

Leontes.

Well said, Hermione.

Hermione.

To tell he longs to see his son were strong:
But let him say so then, and let him go;
But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,
We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.-
Yet of your royal presence [To Polixenes]
I'll adventure

The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
You take my lord, I'll give him my commission,
To let him there a month behind the gest

You put me off with limber vows; but I,
Verily !
Though you would seek t' unsphere the stars
with oaths,

Should yet say, "Sir, no going." Verily,
You shall not go: a lady's verily is

As potent as a lord's. Will you go yet?
Force me to keep you as a prisoner,

Not like a guest, so you shall pay your fees, When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?

My prisoner, or my guest? by your dread verily, One of them you shall be.

Polixenes.

Never, but once.

Leontes. Hermione. What? have I twice said well? when was't before? [make's I pr'ythee, tell me. Cram's with praise, and As fat as tame things: one good deed, dying tongueless,

Slaughters a thousand waiting upon that.
Our praises are our wages: you may ride 's
With one soft kiss a thousand furlongs, ere
With spur we heat an acre. But to the goal:-
My last good deed was to entreat his stay:
What was my first? it has an elder sister,

Or I mistake you: O, would her name were
Grace!

But once before I spoke to the purpose: When? Nay, let me have't; I long.

It is Grace, indeed.Why, lo you now, I have spoke to the purpose twice:

The one for ever earn'd a royal husband,
Th' other for some while a friend.
Giving her hand to Polizenes.
Leontes.
[Aside.
Too hot, too hot!
To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods.
I have tremor cordis on me:-my heart dances,
But not for joy,-not joy.-This entertainment
May a free face put on; derive a liberty
From heartiness, from bounty, fertile bosom,
And well become the agent: 't may, I grant;
But to be paddling palms, and pinching fingers,
As now they are; and making practis'd smiles,
As in a looking-glass;-and then to sigh, as
't were

The mort o' the deer; O! that is entertainment
My bosom likes not, nor my brows.-Mamillius,
Art thou my boy?

Almost as like as eggs: women say so,
That will say any thing: but were they false
As o'er-dyed blacks, as wind, as waters; false
As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes
No bourn 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true
To say this boy were like me.-Come, sir page,
Look on me with your welkin eye: sweet vil-
lain!
[may't be
Most dear'st! my collop!-Can thy dam?.
Affection? thy intention stabs the centre:
Thou dost make possible things not so held,
Communicat'st with dreams;-(how can this
With what's unreal thou coactive art, [be ?)-
And fellow'st nothing. Then, 'tis very credent,
Thou may'st co-join with something; and thou
dost:

(And that beyond commission ;) and I find it,
And that to the infection of my brains,
And hardening of my brows.

What cheer? how is't with you, best brother?
Hermione.
You look,

As if you held a brow of much distraction:
Are you mov'd, my lord?

Leontes.

No, in good earnest.How sometimes nature will betray its folly, Its tenderness, and make itself a pastime To harder bosoms! Looking on the lines Of my boy's face, my thoughts I did recoil Twenty-three years, and saw myself unbreech'd, In my green velvet coat; my dagger muzzled, Lest it should bite its master, and so prove, As ornaments oft do, too dangerous.

How like, methought, I then was to this kernel,
This squash, this gentleman. Mine honest
Will
you take eggs for money?
[friend,
Mamillius.

No, my lord, I'll fight.
Leontes.

You will? why, happy man be his dole!-
My brother,

Are you so fond of your young prince, as we
Do seem to be of ours?

Polixenes.

If at home, sir, He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter: Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy; My parasite, my soldier, statesman, all. He makes a July's day short as December; And with his varying childness cures in me Thoughts that would thick my blood.

Leontes.

So stands this squire Offic'd with me. We two will walk, my lord, And leave you to your graver steps. - Hermione, How thou lov'st us, show in our brother's welLet what is dear in Sicily, be cheap. [come: Next to thyself, and my young rover, he's Apparent to my heart."

Hermione.

If you would seek us, We are yours i' the garden: shall's attend you there?

Leontes.

To your own bents dispose you: you'll be found, Be

Be you beneath the sky. Aside.] I am angling

now,

Though you perceive me not how I give line.
Go to, go to!

How she holds up the neb, the bill to him;
And arms her with the boldness of a wife

To her allowing husband. Gone already !

[Exeunt Polizenes, Hermione, and Attendants.

Inch-thick, knee-deep, o'er head and ears a fork'd one!

Go play, boy, play; thy mother plays, and I Play too, but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue Will hiss me to my grave: contempt and clamour Will be my knell.-Go play, boy, play. There

have been,

Or I am much deceiv'd. cuckolds ere now;

arm

And many a man there is, (even at this present;
Now, while I speak this,) holds his wife by th'
[sence,
That little thinks she has been sluic'd in's ab-
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour, by
Sir Smile, his neighbour. Nay, there's comfort
in't,
[open'd,
Whiles other men have gates, and those gates
As mine, against their will. Should all despair
That have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind
Would hang themselves. Physic for't there is
It is a bawdy planet, that will strike [none:
Where 'tis predominant; and 'tis powerful,

think it,

From east, west, north, and south: be it conNo barricado for a belly: know it; [ciuded, It will let in and out the enemy,

With bag and baggage. Many a thousand on's Have the disease, and feel't not. How now, boy?

Mamillius.

Camillo

My gracious lord, I may be negligent, foolish, and fearful: In every one of these no man is free, But that his negligence, his folly, fear, Amongst the infinite doings of the world, Sometime puts forth. In your affairs, my lord, If ever I were wilful-negligent,

It was my folly; if industriously

I play'd the fool, it was my negligence,
Not weighing well the end; if ever fearful
To do a thing, where I the issue doubted,
Whereof the execution did cry out
Against the non-performance, 'twas a fear
Which oft infects the wisest. These, my lord,
Are such allow'd infirmities, that honesty
Is never free of: but, beseech your grace,
Be plainer with me: let me know my trespass
By its own visage; if I then deny it,
'Tis none of mine.

Leontes.

Have not you seen, Camillo, (But that's past doubt; you have, or your eyeglass

Is thicker than a cuckold's horn) or heard,
(For, to a vision so apparent, rumour
Cannot be mute) or thought, (for cogitation
Resides not in that man that does not think)
My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess,
Or else be impudently negative,
[say,
To have nor eyes, nor ears, nor thought, then
My wife's a hobby-horse; deserves a name
As rank as any flax-wench, that puts to
Before her troth-plight: say't and justify't.
Camillo.

I would not be a stander-by, to hear
My sovereign mistress clouded so, without
My present vengeance taken. 'Shrew my heart,
You never spoke what did become you less

A A

Than